Hearing Qian Renxue's tearful voice, Bibi Dong paused, her heart trembling as she looked back at the small, trembling figure.
Her eyes flickered with blood-red light.
Qian Xunji quickly left Bibi Dong behind as he ran toward Qian Renjue.
"Young Master Jue—" Ghost Douluo was about to step forward to check on him when Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly pulled him back.
"Old Ghost, let's not get involved in this mess; we can't afford to."
"Jue, what's wrong with you?!" Qian Renxue anxiously touched Qian Renjue's face, her red eyes filled with tears.
"S-sis..." Qian Renjue mumbled, his face no longer smiling, still pale, his lips as white as paper.
Hearing the faint sound, Qian Renxue responded excitedly, "Jue, your sister's here, your sister's here! Tell me, what's wrong? Where do you feel uncomfortable?"
Before she could finish speaking, Qian Renxue was shocked and saddened as she watched Qian Renjue's face crumble.
His once bright eyes turned red, and tears soon flowed from the corners of his eyes.
"Jue!" Seeing Qian Renjue cry for the first time in her life, Qian Renxue's heart ached.
Tears welled up in her own red eyes.
"Sister..." Qian Renjue, with tears streaming down his face, reached out and clutched Qian Renxue's clothing, then opened his mouth wide.
"Waah!!..." He called out, throwing himself into her arms, crying hysterically.
"Sister, Jue was so scared, I thought I would never see you again!"
"Sister!" Bibi Dong's killing intent made Qian Renjue feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his body temperature draining, as though he were on the brink of death!
Having faced death before, this terrified Qian Renjue to the core.
Hearing Qian Renjue continuously calling for her and his heart-wrenching cries, Qian Renxue felt her heart breaking apart.
She gently stroked Qian Renjue's back, her voice choked with sobs, trying to comfort him.
"Jue, sister is here. I've always been here. I won't ever leave you."
Qian Xunji stood halfway, his throat burning as if a scorching coal was lodged inside, causing intense pain.
The heart-wrenching sobbing sound robbed Bibi Dong of all the red color in her eyes, shattering her killing intent.
Her body trembled, and panic filled her eyes.
"Jue..." Bibi Dong opened her mouth but couldn't make a sound, her words stuck in her throat.
She took a small step toward Qian Renjue but immediately froze in place.
At some point, the Sixth Elder Jiang Jun Douluo and the Seventh Elder Jiang Mo Douluo, both holding their Dragon Staffs, had taken positions on either side of Qian Renjue, keeping their distance from her. (They are here to protect Qian Xunji from the shadow)
Everyone was on guard against her!
The angry, tearful look Qian Renxue cast at her made Bibi Dong unable to meet her gaze.
Her violet eyes darted about nervously.
Trembling, she fixated on Qian Renjue, whose small shoulders were still shaking.
Bibi Dong felt like she had swallowed a burning iron, the pain in her throat unbearable.
She struggled to move her feet but finally turned away.
When she reopened her eyes, the red hue had crept into the whites of her eyes, causing swelling and pain.
Staggering, she continued toward the carriage.
"Bibi Dong!" Qian Xunji suddenly called her name, without the slightest trace of their former teacher-student relationship.
Bibi Dong stopped, silent, not turning back.
Qian Xunji quickly approached, breathing heavily, suppressing the coldness and anger in his voice.
"Dong'er, they're just children! They are your children!"
Bibi Dong's shoulders trembled, and she shouted hoarsely, "They are yours!"
Qian Xunji roared in anger, demanding, "How can you not accept your own chil-"
"Shut up!!" Bibi Dong screamed, her throat aching and her voice hoarse, as if her heart was being squeezed tightly.
She cut off Qian Xunji's voice, breathing heavily, taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes.
Her lips moved with cold and heartless words. "They are not mine!"
Bibi Dong didn't yell anymore, her words now harsh and bitter, heard only by Qian Xunji.
She couldn't shout; she was afraid to be overheard.
Hearing the crying from behind her, Bibi Dong clenched her teeth and, without looking back, quickly stepped onto the carriage.
"Dong'er, one day, you'll regret this!" Qian Xunji stood still, shouting before turning to walk back to Qian Renjue.
Inside the carriage, Bibi Dong had no time to care about Qian Xunji. She didn't sit down after boarding.
Instead, she immediately knelt on the cushion, her body pressed against the carriage wall, hurriedly adjusting her position.
She tried to peer through the gap in the window, wanting to see her son.
"Jue..." Bibi Dong's voice was tearful, showing none of her former viciousness.
Through the gap, she saw Qian Renxue, still crying, constantly comforting Qian Renjue.
The others were gathered around him, and Bibi Dong shifted her position again and again, trying to catch a better glimpse.
She watched as Qian Xunji took Qian Renjue from Qian Renxue and held him in his arms.
Bibi Dong's face twisted with anger.
Qian Xunji wasn't worthy! He wasn't worthy!
She then saw Qian Renjue's red, swollen eyes and tear-streaked face, and it felt like her heart was being torn apart.
"Jue..." Bibi Dong bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes.
...
"Xiao Jue, how are you feeling now?" Qian Xunji sat on the ground, his face full of concern as he looked at Qian Renjue, who had stopped crying but couldn't stop sobbing.
"Dad... Jue is fine now." Qian Renjue buried his head in Qian Xunji's chest, tears still streaming down his face.
"Jue..." Qian Renxue held his small hand tightly, never letting go.
Seeing Qian Renjue in such a state, the two elders couldn't bear it either.
They had always treated Qian Renxue and Qian Renjue like their own grandchildren.
Jiang Mo Douluo couldn't help but coldly say, "Hmph! That lass Bibi Dong is truly..."
"Enough, little brother. Don't say anymore," Jiang Jun Douluo interrupted, looking at Qian Renjue and sighing inwardly.
Trying to console them, he added,
"Perhaps it's just that she hasn't learned how to control her surging killing intent."
Qian Renxue remained silent, gripping Qian Renjue's hand. She never wanted to see the terrifying expression on her brother's face again.
Jiang Jun Douluo said no more.
"Xiao Ji, you take care. It's time for us to head back. We'll be watching from the shadows."
Qian Xunji nodded respectfully.
"Thank you, uncles."
"No need for such formalities. Let's go." Jiang Mo Douluo waved his hand, and he and his brother vanished into the distance.
After seeing them off, Qian Xunji's attention returned to Qian Renjue.
"Xiao Jue, do you want something to eat?"
"No, I don't," Qian Renjue shook his head and replied, his voice hoarse and his expression weary.
Qian Renxue suggested, "Dad, let Jue rest for a while."
"Alright, that might be best." Qian Xunji looked up at the carriage.
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